Let\u2019s be honest\u2013parenting can sometimes feel like a battlefield. Armed with heavy artillery feuled by the coffee maker, we take on the noble fight, dodging rapid fire toys, maneuvering dinnertime, and putting sleepy children to bed by 1900 hours.<\/p>\n
For military moms, the battle is a lot more challenging.<\/p>\n
Both Jamilah and her husband entered the service with the hopes of becoming American citizens. As a Navy Equipment Operator, she was responsible for securing the Quarterdeck area during her first pregnancy while her husband was deployed as a Builder.<\/p>\n
After delivering a son, she became a heavy equipment operator, driving over 5,000 miles on convoys. While carrying her second child, a daughter, she became a cost report manager, checking the Navy\u2019s inventory.<\/p>\n
The road for her family wouldn\u2019t be an easy one. Late nights and early mornings took their toll. Within 6 weeks of their birth, her children began receiving in home care,\u00a0 while she woke each morning at 0430 (that\u2019s 4:30am for us civilians) to prepare breakfast and head to work. \u201cWe lived 20 minutes away, so on physical training days, we showered at work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Motivated by her dreams for her children, she attended school at night. Thankfully, her mother was there to pitch in. \u201cWhile my husband was on deployment, I\u2026had the help of my lovely mother. I was in school, so I needed the childcare for night time. When my mother wasn\u2019t there, I felt like I was losing control. Trying to manage it all was so stressful\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to her work, school, and children, there\u2019s her marriage. Although Jamilah and her husband kept in touch through Viber, Facetime, Skype, and What\u2019s App during his deployments, \u201cMy relationship always felt like we were starting over\u2026and having to learn each other all over again.\u201d<\/p>\n Military life can be hard on families. Finding reliable child care while serving your country is difficult. \u201cI\u00a0found myself constantly having to find a night sitter for duty nights or simply telling them I [couldn\u2019t], due to my kids\u2026one night I had flag duty, and both\u2026kids were sitting in the stroller looking at me lower the flag for evening colors.\u201d<\/p>\n While they were born into the service, their children are still too young to really grasp their father\u2019s absence. \u201c\u2026My oldest (3yrs) kind of understand[s] what\u2019s going on. I told him daddy would be gone for some months and we [would] have to count down to see him. He\u2026[said], \u2018when daddy comes home, I hope he never leaves again.\u201d<\/p>\n Chevell, stationed in Camp Pendleton, knows the military mom\u2019s struggle first hand.<\/p>\n \u201cA normal day for me starts at 0400 (4am), getting up to get ready for the day. I\u2026get my 10 month old son up at 0530 (5:30am) to get him ready so he can get dropped off at daycare on base.\u201d<\/p>\n Her days as a Sargeant in the Marine Corps are long, with a short break to see her son before she heads back to work. \u201cI have to be at work at 0700 (7am). While at work, I am responsible for the supply and logistics section, while also ensuring that all facilities are maintained as well as the camp\u2026Lunch is normally at 1130-1300, but during those times I\u2019m still working\u2026I try to visit the daycare during lunch to spend at least 15 mins with my son.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"image\"](\"http:\/\/mymommyvents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/wpid-wp-1447251444752.jpg\" "\\"wp-1447251444752\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n